Prokaryotes 1 2 3 General Characteristics and structures

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Prokaryotes 1. 2. 3. General Characteristics and structures – The prokaryotic Cells contain a

Prokaryotes 1. 2. 3. General Characteristics and structures – The prokaryotic Cells contain a single circular chromosome, ribosomes (70 S), and a cell wall made up of peptidoglycan. They have no membrane bound organelles. Natural History – Prokaryotes appear in the fossil record 3. 5 billion years ago as fossilized Stromatolites (thin layer of rocks that form when certain prokaryotes bind thin films of sediment together). They were the sole inhabitants until about 2. 1 billion years ago (for 1. 4 billion years). Biogeography – They are present in most habitats on the planet, growing in soil, water, acidic hot springs, radioactive waste, and deep in the Earth's crust, as well as in organic matter and the live bodies of plants and animals. They have been found living in the cold and dark in a lake buried a half-mile deep under the ice in Antarctica and in the upper atmosphere.

Prokaryotes – General Characteristics Morphology Most prokaryotes are unicellular but have a variety of

Prokaryotes – General Characteristics Morphology Most prokaryotes are unicellular but have a variety of shapes. 1. 2. 3. 4. Cocci - Round or Spherical in shape. Bacilli - Rod-shaped. Helical – Spiral-shaped. Filamentous – Cells that continue to elongate instead of dividing.

Prokaryotes – General Characteristics Cell-Surface Structure A key feature of nearly all prokaryotes is

Prokaryotes – General Characteristics Cell-Surface Structure A key feature of nearly all prokaryotes is the cell wall. The cell wall contains peptidoglycan (a polymer of sugars cross-linked by short polypeptides). Using a technique called the Gram stain, bacterial species can be separated into two groups based on the differences in cell wall composition. Gram staining is a technique used to identify bacteria. The procedure is as follows: 1. Application of crystal violet 2. Application of iodine 3. Alcohol wash 4. Application of safranin 1. Gram-positive – Violet in Color A simple structure with a large amount of peptidoglycan that retains the violet color in the cytoplasm. 2. Gram-negative – Red in Color A small amount of peptidoglycan sandwiched in between two membranes. The violet dye easily washes away to expose the red dye.

Prokaryotes – General Characteristics Bacterial Colonies A bacterial colony grows from a single bacterium

Prokaryotes – General Characteristics Bacterial Colonies A bacterial colony grows from a single bacterium and is composed of millions of cells. Each colony has a characteristic size, shape, consistency, texture, and color, all of which may be useful in preliminary species identification. At this station you have examples of different bacterial colonies. Be able to identify the Petri dishes only as bacterial colonies and realize that their shapes, margins, and surface characteristics (as illustrated on the left) are used as a tool.

Prokaryotes – General Characteristics Bacteria and Antibiotics It is comparatively easy to find or

Prokaryotes – General Characteristics Bacteria and Antibiotics It is comparatively easy to find or develop drugs that are effective against prokaryotic cells and that do not affect eukaryotic cells. These two types of cells differ in the presence or absence of cell walls, their ribosome structure, and details of their metabolism. Differences between different bacterial cells allow certain antibiotics to work on certain bacteria and not on others. Therefore it is impossible to have one antibiotic fight all bacterial diseases. Spectrum of Microbial Activity (Range) Narrow Spectrum – works on either gram negative or gram-positive bacteria (ex. Penicillin – gram positive) Broad Spectrum – works on both gram negative and gram positive bacteria (ex. Tetracycline)

Prokaryotes – General Characteristics Bacteria Pigments Some bacteria can be identified by their colorful

Prokaryotes – General Characteristics Bacteria Pigments Some bacteria can be identified by their colorful pigments. Pigments are used for several reasons: Photosynthesis: certain pigments are used to collect light energy and convert it into sugars for the bacteria Protection: certain pigments are used to protect the bacteria from the damage of Ultraviolet light Be able to recognize the pigmented bacteria at this station.

Prokaryotes – General Characteristics Luminescent Bacteria Microbial luminescence (or light emission) is found in

Prokaryotes – General Characteristics Luminescent Bacteria Microbial luminescence (or light emission) is found in deep sea environments and in soils. These organisms have an enzyme called luciferase that releases light during cellular respiration (the making of ATP). These type of bacteria are being used in industry to: detect the progression of plant infections, antibiotics in milk, toxic pollutants, and bacteria in food.

Prokaryotes – Classification The kingdom Monera (in the five kingdom system) contained all the

Prokaryotes – Classification The kingdom Monera (in the five kingdom system) contained all the prokaryotes. This taxonomic grouping was polyphyletic and was based only on cellular structure and not on any molecular evidence. Using molecular biology (small subunit ribosomal RNA), Carl Woese suggested that some prokaryotes are more closely related to eukaryotes. He suggested that even though they are all made up of prokaryotic cells, one group of bacteria replicated their DNA and made proteins more like Eukaryotes and should be separated into a separate Domain. The Domain Bacteria includes the vast majority of prokaryotic species which include five major groups: 1) the Proteobacteria, 2) the Chlamydias, 3) the Spirochetes, 4) the Cyanobacteria, and 5) the Gram-positive Bacteria. The Domain Archaea can is being worked out but the first Archaea were called extremophiles due to the extreme conditions they were found in. These include two types: 1) the halophiles, and 2) thermophiles. A third group has been identified and they are found in more moderate environment release methane and are called 3) methanogens.

Domain: Bacteria Group: Proteobacteria The group proteobacteria is the most diverse group of bacteria.

Domain: Bacteria Group: Proteobacteria The group proteobacteria is the most diverse group of bacteria. It is broken down into three main subgroups depending on their major nutritional modes and the source of their energy. The groups are: 1. Photoautotrophic (use light and CO 2) 2. Photoheterotrophic (use light and organic molecules) 3. Chemoautotrophic (use inorganic molecules and CO 2) 4. Chemoheterotrophic (use organic molecules for both) The example for this group is Escherichia coli (E. coli). E. coli is a rod-shaped, gram negative, facultative anaerobe. This is one of the most prolific microorganisms in the human intestinal tract. E. coli is normally harmless but certain strains are pathogenic. Some of these have specialized fimbrae (fingers) that allow them to bind to the intestinal wall. These produce toxins that cause diarrhea and, in a few cases, death. Several outbreaks in the United States have been linked to raw milk or undercooked hamburger.

Domain: Bacteria Group: Chlamydia This group of cocci bacteria are obligate intracellular parasites of

Domain: Bacteria Group: Chlamydia This group of cocci bacteria are obligate intracellular parasites of animals that obtain all their ATP from host cells. They are transmitted to humans by interpersonal contact or by airborne respiratory routes. When using gram stain on this organism, you will get a gram negative result. This is due to their unusual cell wall which lacks peptidoglycan. There is no example for this group because of their small size (can’t be seen with our microscopes) but you should know about the following species. Chlamydia trachomatis is the most common cause of blindness in the world and is the most common sexually transmitted infection.

Domain: Bacteria Group: Spirochetes The spirochetes are helical chemoheterotrophs. They have a unique morphology

Domain: Bacteria Group: Spirochetes The spirochetes are helical chemoheterotrophs. They have a unique morphology and mechanism of motility. They are typically slender, long and helical in shape. They contain fibrils (axial filaments) that are attached to the cell poles and wrapped throughout the body. (In a sense, they are bacterial flagella in a protoplasmic sheath). They are found in aquatic environments and in the bodies of animals. Some of them may cause disease. The example for this group is Treponema pallidum. This is the organism that causes syphilis. This organism is frail and cannot survive drying or chilling. Since it dies within a few seconds on being exposed to air (essentially anaerobic), it must be transmitted by sexual intercourse, kissing, or other intimate body contact. It requires warm, moist skin or mucous membrane surfaces to penetrate the body. Syphilis occurs in four stages • Primary stage (top photo) is a pink to red, raised painless sore called a chancre which disappears in 3 -6 weeks. • Secondary stage (bottom photo) occurs 1 -6 months after the chancre disappears. It is a rash that doesn’t itch. • Latent stage lasts for a few months to a lifetime. There are no external symptoms. • Tertiary stage is characterized by permanent damage to vital organs and death.

Domain: Bacteria Group: Cyanobacteria The cyanobacteria are aerobic, photoautotrophic bacteria. They were once called

Domain: Bacteria Group: Cyanobacteria The cyanobacteria are aerobic, photoautotrophic bacteria. They were once called blue-green algae but they are made up of prokaryotic cells and are not a true algae. They have unicellular, colonial and filamentous forms. They contain the pigment phycocyanin which give them their blue-green color. They are unique on this planet because they are the only organisms known to both release oxygen and fix nitrogen. They mostly inhabit fresh water, but they are also found in marine environments and some symbiotic relationships. The example for cyanobacteria is Oscillatoria is a filamentous form that is found in large numbers in fresh water. They can be a problem in areas where there is chemical pollution in the form of synthetic detergents. The detergents contain phosphates that allow the cyanobacteria to multiply rapidly and whey they die, it causes decomposing bacteria to bloom, which in turn removes all the oxygen from the water and results in the death of other organisms (fish, insects, etc. ).

Domain: Bacteria Group: Gram Positive Bacteria Most of the bacteria in this group are

Domain: Bacteria Group: Gram Positive Bacteria Most of the bacteria in this group are gram positive. There a few gram negative members but are grouped in this taxa due to molecular systematics. Some are photosynthetic, but most species are chemoheterotrophs. The example for this group is Clostridium tetani. This is an obligate anaerobe , endospore-forming gram –positive rod. The endospores make the bacteria resistant to harsh conditions. (Notice the round ends on some of the rodshaped individuals). It is common in soil contaminated with animal fecal wastes. The species releases an exotoxin (neurotoxin) that blocks the relaxation pathway of the muscles and causes them to contract. The muscles in the jaw are affected early and the condition is often known as lockjaw. An amount of the neurotoxin weighing as much as the ink in a period of this page can kill 30 people.

Domain: Archaea Group: Methanogens (methane releasing) Group: Halophiles (lives in high salt areas) Group:

Domain: Archaea Group: Methanogens (methane releasing) Group: Halophiles (lives in high salt areas) Group: Thermophiles (lives in extreme temperatures) This domain is made up of prokaryotic cells but are quite different than the true bacteria. They do share some characteristics with the eukaryotes and are thought to be more closely related to the eukaryotes than the bacteria of today. The shared characteristics with eukaryotes include: DNA introns present RNA polymerase Start Amino Acid for protein synthesis Response to antibiotics

Viruses

Viruses

Viruses are made up of genomes (DNA or RNA) enclosed in a protective coat

Viruses are made up of genomes (DNA or RNA) enclosed in a protective coat called a capsid (protein). The tiniest viruses are only 20 nm in diameter (smaller than a ribosome).